Dispensing machine



April 21, 1931. w. E. BIHL ET AL 1,801,409

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rrie ygfinfew'fi: I Mi/[12m 11m! amqiauf M Ale] 1? and MW m r April l 1931.

w. E. BIHL ETAL DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jar}. 22, 1930Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAIVI E. IBIHLAND AXEL RAMCLAW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ZERO- ZONECORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DISPENSINGMACHINE Application filed January 22,1930. Serial No. 422,512.

This invention relates to dispensing machines of the coin controlledtype, more particularly to an improved coin chute and coin control forsuch machines.

In our copending applications, Serial No. 422,511 filed January 22,1930, and Serial No. 422,513 filed January 22, 1930, we disclose animproved dispensing machine adapted to dispense ice cold bottledbeverages. The improved coin chute and control therefor, which forms thesubject matter of the instant application, is applicable to machines ofthe type disclosed in these copending applications, as well as to othersimilar machines.

In the dispensing machine disclosed in the copending applications, thearticles to be dispensed from the machine are stored on a ramp whichdefines a helical path around a cooling chamber, the articles standingon end in this ramp.

A pusher located onthe ramp behind the last article in the machine isoperated by a driving mechanism of the Windlass type to push or slidethe articles along the ramp.

, At the discharge end of the ramp, the articles slide oif of thesupporting rail of t ramp and onto a trap door, through which they fallinto the dischargechute of the machine. Normally, the driving mechanismis disconnected from the crank arm disposed on the outside of themachine so that a mischievous operation of that crank arm withoutdepositing a coin in the coin slot of the machine will not result ininjury to the machine.

The coin slot of a machine of this type communicates with a chute whichleads down into the control mechanism so that the coin dropped into theslot falls thru the chute into the mechanism where it is effective toconnect the driving mechanism to the crank arm, this connection beingpreferably accomplished in the manner pointed out in our latter abovementioned copending application, although, in so far as the teachings ofthe present invention are concerned, any other preferred type of coincontrol can be substituted therefor.

A coin deposited in the coin slot of the machine falls through thechute. into the control mechanism, and, if special arrangements were notprovided to prevent it, the coin so deposited would be collected by themachine even though no articles were in the machine at the time. Thecustomer would, therefore, get no return for his money and, as a result,an unfavorable or even antagoni'stic impression towards the machinewould be lodged in the mind of the customer.

To prevent contingencies of this kind, we have provided as the object ofour present invention a new and improved coin chute control which isoperated when the last article in the ramp of the machine is dischargedfrom the machine to alter the coin chute so that any additional coinswhich may be deposited in the slot before the machine is recharged willbe returned to the customer.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention, illustrated in thedrawings by way of example, a push rod is operated by the pusher on theramp when that pusher moves to discharge the last article from themachine. The movement of this rod controls a cam, which in turn insertsbloclcing pins or rods into the chute leading to the control mechanism.This chute is provided with a lateral slot through which coins depositedin the slot of the machine are made to fall when they strike these rodsprojecting into the coin chute. The lateral slot in the chutecommunicates with a return receptacle, from which the customer mayrecover his coin.

Now, to acquaint those skilled in the art with the teachings of ourinvent-ion, reference is here made to the accompanying drawings in whicha preferred embodiment of it is shown by Way of example, and in whichFig. 1 is an elevational view of the front wall of a dispensing machineshowing the coin chute control mechanism applied to the inside of thatwall;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1, taken along the line.22looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 andshowing the coin chute mechanism drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional. View through the coin chute taken along theline 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the control mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to5, inclusive.

As is pointed out in our above mentioned co-pending applications, thecabinet of the dispensing machine comprises an exterior wall 1 and aninterior wall 2, and the space between the walls is filled with aninsulting material 3, since the machine is designed to dis ense cooledbeverages.

he coin slot 4 comprises a plate 4 attached to the outside wall 1 of themachine, in the center of which plate and near the top of it is the coinslot 5 through which coins are dropped to operate the control mechanismof the machine. An opening 6 is provided in the plate 4 below the slot5, that opening registering with the return receptacle from which thecustomer recovers his coin when the machine is empty. The returnreceptacle 7 is a pocket-like compartment defined by the walls of thecoin chute 8, the plate 4, and suitable end and bottom members attachedthereto.

Within the return receptacle 7, the coin chute 8, which leads from theslot 5 down into the control mechanism 9 of the machine, is providedwith a lateral opening or slot 10 through which coins enter the returnreceptacle.

In the normal operation of the machine, that is, when there are articlesto be dis pensed in the machine, a coin deposited in the slot 5 fallsthrough the chute 8 into the control mechanism 9, operating thatmechanism to render it efi'ective to dispense an article from themachine. The details of the o eration of the control mechanism 9 may estbe understood from the above mentioned copending application Serial No.422,513, to which application reference is here made for those details.

Briefly, however, the operation of the control mechanism 9 moves theWindlass 11 to pull the control cable 12 around through the- To controlthe coin slot so that coins deposited in it after the last article inthe machine has been dispensed will fall into the return receptaclerather than into the control mechanism, we have provided a rod 20supported on the inside surface of the front wall 2 of the cabinet bythe bushing 21 in such a manner that the rod 20 is free to rotate aboutits own axis. At the lower end of the rod 20 we have formed a hooklikemember 22, the end of which is disposed in such a position that it isstruck by the pusher when that pusher is moved to discharge the lastarticle 15 from the machine. The pusher, upon striking the end 22 of therod 20, rotates the rod about its longitudinal axis, and that motion isemployed to control the coin chute.

On the upper end of the rod 20 we have provided a bell crank 23 which isconnected by the lever 24 to the cam 25 of the coin slot control.

As will best be seen in Figs. 3, 1-, and 6, a pair of cylindricalbushings 30 are attached to the walls of the coin chute 8, and a U-shaped control rod 31 is disposed in these bushings with one leg of theU in each bushing. The closed end of the rod 31 pasess through the slot32 in the cam 25, and is held therein by the slot 33 disposed in the camslide in which the cam 25 is nested.

Normally, the bar 31 rests in the high portion 37 of the cam, in whichposition the ends 35 and 36 of the bar 31 do not reach into the interiorof the chute 8.

When the rod 20 is rotated and the bell crank and lever controlledthereby moved to slide the cam 25 in its support 34, the closed end ofthe U-bar 31 is moved off of the high portion 37 of the cam 25 down intothe low portion 38. This movement slides the legs of the bar 31 throughthe bushings 30 so that the ends 35 and 36 are moved into and across theopening in the coin chute 8.

As will be best seen in Fig. 5, when the ends 35 and 36 obstruct thecoin chute 8, a coin dropped through the slot 5, strikes the bar 35 andis deflected to the side through the opening 10 in the side of the coinchute. As the coin falls, it strikes the end 36 which further deflectsit sidewise, so that the coin is discharged from the chute 8 through theopening 10 into the return receptacle 7, from which it is recovered bythe customer.

As long as the machine remains empty and the pusher 13 bears against theend 22 of the rod 20, the cam 25 remains in the position in which thebar 31 blocks the coin chute 8. As soon as the pusher is backed oil fromthis position to permit recharging the machine, the rod 20 is rotated inthe opposite direction by the action of the spring 20 and the ends 35and 36 of the rod 31 are withdrawn from the coin chute 8 by the reverseaction of the cam 25. The machine is then restored to normal and thecoins deposited in the coin slot 5 will fall through the chute 8 intothe control mechanism 9 to operate that mechanism to permit thedischarge of an article from the machine.

WVhile we have shown our invention in connection with a machine of thewindlass driven type, we have done so by way of example only, as theimproved coin chute and control therefor disclosed in this invention canbe applied to a large number of coin dispensing machines which areoperated upon slightly differentprinciples. We are not, therefore, to belimited to the specific disclosure shown.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of our invention, what we consider new and desireto have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appendedclaims.

We claim 1. In a dispensing machine, a coin slot, a chute communicatingtherewith, a coin return receptacle, said chute extending through saidreceptacle and having a slotted side opening into it, means controlledby the movement of a cointhrough said chute for.

dispensing articles from said machine, a lever moved by the movement ofsaid dispensing means as it dispenses the last article from the machine,and means mechanically operated by the movement of said lever forblocking said chute to thereby cause additional coins deposited in saidcoin slot to fall into said receptacle.

2. In a dispensing machine, a coin slot, a chute communicatingtherewith, a coin return receptacle, said chute extending through saidreceptacle and having a slotted side opening into it, means controlledby the movement of a coin through said chute for dispensing articlesfrom said machine, a lever moved by the movement of said dispensingmeans as it dispenses the last article from the machine, a cam moved bythe movement of said lever, and means controlled by said cam forblocking said chute to thereby cause additional coins deposited in saidcoin slot to fall into said receptacle.

3. In a dispensing machine, a fiat plate disposed on an outside wall ofsaid machine, said plate containing a coin slot and a return opening, acoin chute connected to said plate and communicating with said coinslot, a return receptacle attached to the back side of said plate inregistration with said opening, said chute also communicating with saidreceptacle through a slot disposed in the side of the chute, a pair ofcylindrical bushings disposed at substantially right angles to saidplate and communicating with said chute, one of said bushings openinginto the chute at a point above the opening of the other bushing andtoward the side of the chute away from the slot in said chute, aU-shaped bar having one leg disposed in each of said bushings and endingtherein short of said chute, a cam embracing the closed end of saidU-bar, and means for moving said cam to cause it to move the ends ofsaid bar legs through said bushings into and across said chute, tothereby cause a coin deposited in said coin slot to fall through saidchute slot into said receptacle.

4. In a dispensing machine, a flat plate disposed on an outside wall ofsaid machine, said plate containing a coin slot and a return opening, acoin chute connected to said plate and communicating with said coinslot, a return receptacle attached to the back side of said plate inregistration with said opening, said chute also communicating with saidreceptacle through a slot disposed in the side of the chute, a pair ofcylindrical bushings disposed at substantially right angles to saidplate and communicating with said chute, one of said bushings openinginto the chute at a point above the opening of the other bushing andtoward the side of the chute away from the slot in said chute, aU-shaped bar having one leg disposed in each of said bushings and endingtherein short of said chute, a second plate mounted on the inside wallof said machine and communicating with said bushings, said second platecontaining a slot in which the closed end of said bar is disposed, a camsupported on said second plate and embracing the closed end of saidU-bar, and means for moving said cam to cause it to move the ends ofsaid bar legs through said bushings into and across said chute, tothereby cause a coin deposited in said coin slot to fall through saidchute slot into said receptacle.

5. In a dispensing machine, a flat plate disposed on an outside wall ofsaid machine, said plate containing a coin slot and a return opening, acoin chute connected to said plate and communicating with said coinslot, a return receptacle attached to the back side of said plate inregistration with said opening, said chute also communicating with saidreceptacle through a slot disposed in the side of the chute, a pluralityof cylindrical bushings disposed at substantially right angles to saidplate and communicating with said chute, one of said bushings openinginto the chute at a point above the opening of the other bushing andtoward the side of the chute away from the slot in said chute, a bar ineach of said bushings, the end of which is disposed within the bushingadjacent the chute, a cam engaging said bars, and means for moving saidcam to cause it to move the ends of said bars through said bushings intoand across said chute, to thereby cause a coin deposited in said coinslot to fall through said chute 1 slot into said receptacle.

6. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a ramp for holding thearticles to be dispensed from the machine, a pusher engaging thearticles in said ramp and a drive mechanism for moving said pusher tothereby push an article oii' said ramp to dispense it from said machine,of a coin slot leading to said drive mechanism to permit a coindeposited in the machine to render the drive mechanism operative, a coinreturn receptacle through which said chute passes, said chute containinga slot which Opens into said receptacle, and means controlled by saidpusher in discharging the last article from said ramp for blocking saidchute to thereby cause coins dropped into said chute to fall throughsaid slot into said return receptacle.

7. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a ramp for holding thearticles to be dispensed from the machine, a pusher engaging thearticles in said ramp and a drive mechanism for moving said pusher tothereby push an article off said ramp to dispense it from said machine,of a coin slot leading to said drive mechanism to permit a coindeposited in the machine to render the drive mechanism operative, a coinreturn receptacle through which said chute passes, said chute containinga slot which opens into said receptacle, a plurality of bushingsdisposed on said chute, rods disposed in said bushings with their endsfalling short of said chute, and means controlled by said pusher indischarging the last article from said ramp for moving said rods acrosssaid chute to block it and thereby cause coins deposited in said chuteto fall through said slot into said return receptacle.

8. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a ramp for holding thearticles to be dispensed from the machine, a pusher engaging thearticles in said ramp and a drive mechanism for moving said pusher tothereby push an article off said ramp to dispense it from said machine,of a coin slot leading to said drive mechanism to permit a coindeposited in the machine to render the drive mechanism operative, a coinreturn receptacle through which said chute passes, said chute containinga slot which opens into said receptacle, a plurality of bushingsdisposed on said chute, rods disposed in said bushings with their endsfalling short of said chute, a cam engaging said rods, and meansoperated by said pusher in discharging the last article from said rampfor moving said rods across said chute to block it and thereby causecoins deposited in said chute to fall through said slot into said returnreceptacle.

9. In a dispensing machine, the combination with a ramp for holding thearticles to be dispensed from the machine, a pusher engaging thearticles in said ramp and a drive mechanism for moving said pusher tothereby push an article off said ramp to dispense it from said machine,of a coin slot leading to said drive mechanism to permit a coindeposited in the machine to render the drive mechanism operative, a coinreturn receptacle through which said chute passes, said chute containinga slot which opens into said receptacle, a plurality of bushingsdisposed on said chute, rods disposed in said bushings with their endsfalling short of said chute, a cam engaging said rods, a rod disposedwithin said machine adjacent said ramp, a bell crank on said rod, alever connecting said bell crank to said cam, and a second crank arm onthe opposite end of said rod engaged and moved by said pusher as itmoves the last article in the machine off the ramp to rotate the rod andthereby cause it to operate said cam to move said rods across said chutethereby blocking it and causing coins dropped into said chute to fallthrough said slot into the return receptacle.

In witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 17 day of Jan,1930.

WILLIAM E. BIHL. AXEL RAMCLAW.

